A customer grabbed a shopkeeper by the collar as he tried to steal various items. For Patel Herdik, this is a regular occurrence in one area of London dubbed 'one of the most dangerous' and is riddled with drug dealers.

"It's very difficult", Patel said, standing amongst the huge array of items on offer at H&K Discount Store. He added: "There’s drug use and crime here as well. Two or three times I’ve had a very bad experience."

This is Willow Tree Lane in Yeading, an area of West London that has historically experienced high crime levels. Delivery drivers are even wary when entering parts of the estate and often ‘run away’ from ‘drunks and druggies’.

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Patel Herdik poses for photos near the Willow Tree Lane estate in west London
Patel Herdik runs a shop in Yeading and says he's had to 'run away from druggies' who have 'grabbed him by the collar'

Others are even too scared to go out at night but there are still some good people who call the part of Hillingdon home. MyLondon wanted to find out where this area has developed a reputation.

Patel who moved to Yeading three years ago, added: “From the bet shop you get all the druggies and some guys have come in here and wanted to take things from the shop. Once one grabbed me by the collar, and one or two times I’ve had to run away. Others have not found the item they wanted.”

Another man man entering Melbourne House, one of a few nearby tower blocks of flats explained the scale of the area's "dangerous reputation." He told MyLondon: "It’s a rough area, man. There are a lot of drug addicts, it’s very big for drug addicts. You see them all over the place. My neighbours got broken into a few months ago and took all their stuff. There’s also kids with knives.”

A 67-year-old woman, who still works at Sainsbury’s part-time, also said: "I don’t go out the house much but I know crime’s bad. We get police down the road perhaps once or twice a week. I live next to a park and there’s always bikes left abandoned. People steal the bikes, take off the stuff and leave the frame.”

General view of the Willow Tree Lane estate in west London
Business owners say some of those who use the bookies in Yeading cause trouble

She went on to say that during her 20 year stay in the area, things have got “worse”. She added: “I live in a little cul-de-sac and neighbours look out for each other. Neighbours have had cars broken into a lot as well.”

Asked if she was wary when walking outside, she said: “Oh, God yeah. I never go out in the dark; I used to. My daughter’s car got broken into a couple of months ago. It’s younger kids, perhaps teenagers, she keeps change in a little compartment and they took that. It was petty. You also get people going around cars lifting handles.”

Amar Bhatti, 51, a taxi driver who is waiting for his latest paperwork to come through before he can start taking locals to where they need to go, has lived in Yeading for more than 15 years. He said: “One time I was going to the shop and someone had broken the window of a car outside the laundrette. There was a guy, he was there in daylight, it was criminal damage. That was two weeks ago.”

A tower block of flats in Yeading
The area features a variety of housing, including tower blocks of flats

Mustafa Baye, 31, the owner of the local laundrette, said: “There are too many people drinking, and at school time kids come across the road and they’re drunk. There’s a few boys making problems for everybody.”

But Mr Bhatti said the area does have things going for it despite some concerning incidents. He added: “But it’s not too bad - I’ve seen bad areas before. It’s good, I like it. It’s very close to the motorway, the A40, the M49, the M4, Heathrow, and very near local shops. There’s a Tesco and we have three Lidls - one on the Whitehouse roundabout, one on Uxbridge Road and one in Hayes Town. There’s also the Northern, Central line and bus routes. But sometimes I do see police coming, a lot on Hornbeam Road. I think there is some trouble, I’ve seen them twice since we came here.”

Another man, who did not wish to be named as he worked at a local school. He told MyLondon: “For me it’s alright. I’ve lived here for years, it’s fine. Not too bad. Arunja Kulaseelan, 23, an economy and finance student at the University of East London, added: “I would say it’s safer than other places. Like Ealing, I worked in an off licence there and so many people, mostly alcoholic people, behave in a bad way. They don’t respect people. I’ve never experienced anything in this area.”

Arunja Kualseelan poses for photos near the Willow Tree Lane estate in west London
Student Arunja Kulaseelan thinks Yeading is actually 'safer' than other nearby neighbourhoods such as Ealing

Ros Roland, who is in her 60s, who works part-time as a registrar of births, deaths and marriages, said: “I’ve been a resident here all my life and things have deteriorated, but there are still lots of good people that recommend it. Lots of places have trouble, I don’t think it’s just Yeading.

"There’s the local church for example that does food banks and things - good things for local people. There are still lots of very decent people here. I also live next to a nice open space and wildlife. You Often get approached by beggars asking for money but you don’t have to, you can walk past. The experience here is more good than bad.”

London 365 #83 - Willow Tree Lane, Yeading

Amar Bhatti

MyLondon visited Willow Tree Lane in Yeading as part of our London 365 project, where our reporters will be visiting a different part of our great city every day in 2023.

Ever wondered what it's like to live in the part of London furthest from a Tube station? Or in the shadow of one of the world's busiest airports? How is gentrification impacting some of London's neighbourhoods hardest hit by the cost of living crisis?

From Brent to Bromley, Hillingdon to Havering, and everywhere in between, the MyLondon team will explore the biggest issues facing Londoners, while celebrating every part of the capital this year.

Where should we go next? Email mylondonnewsdesk@reachplc.com. To see all the other neighbourhoods we have visited in 2023, click here.

Is something happening in your area that you think MyLondon should be reporting about? Contact adam.toms@reachplc.com

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